U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

In 2014 a U.S.-led coalition began a campaign of airstrikes in Iraq and Syria – officially known as Operation Inherent Resolve – following the capture of large swathes of the countries by the so-called Islamic State (ISIS). An intense air and ground campaign drove ISIS out of almost all territory by 2018 but resulted in significant destruction and loss of life.

Airwars documented thousands of allegations of civilian harm from U.S.-led Coalition strikes and has conducted numerous major investigations and research papers on the topic.

Airwars estimate of civilian deaths

8,249 – 13,342

Locally reported civilian deaths from declared or likely U.S.-led Coalition actions in Iraq and Syria for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by the U.S.-led Coalition. These originate from 3,003 separate alleged incidents.

1,728 – 2,371
children likely killed
1,127 – 1,468
women likely killed
5,930
likely injured
3,784
named victims

U.S.-led Coalition estimate of civilian deaths

1,457

Confirmed civilian deaths, from U.S.-led Coalition actions in Iraq and Syria, originating from 364 separate incidents of civilian harm.

411
civilians confirmed injured
Alleged deaths
19,217 – 29,816
Locally reported civilian deaths from U.S.-led Coalition actions in Iraq and Syria.
3,003 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
8,249 – 13,342
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by U.S.-led Coalition
1,553 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
2,397 – 2,821
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
435 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
7,877 – 12,576
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
783 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
694 – 1,077
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
232 seperate alleged incidents
2996 incidents
Order results by:
Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

7 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1171

Location

شارع تل ابيض, Tal Abyad Street, Raqqa, Syria
One civilian male was killed in Tal Abyad Street, according to local media. Baladi said that one person died in artillery shelling on Tal Abyad Street in the center of the city. It is understood by Airwars that only the Coalition has artillery in Raqqa. However, other sources referred to a rocket attack, with Sharqia…

Summary

Published
7 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

7 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1172

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Raqqa, Syria
According to Euphrates Post on July 9th, “five civilians from one family, from Deir Ezzor, died and a number were wounded following air strikes by the international Coalition on the city of Raqqa two days ago.” Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently also reported the death of the al Sayyed family of five in a “bombing”…

Summary

Published
7 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

7 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1202

Location

حي الدرعية, Al Dariya, Raqqa, Syria
One girl died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on Raqqa’s al Dari’ya neighbourhood. According to Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, “the international Coalition targeted the Al-Thlaji house in al Dari’ya neighborhood next to Al-Hamzawi Hotel west of the city center. The raid led to the death of Manaf Ismail Al-Thlaji’s wife and the wounding of…

Summary

Published
7 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

7 July 2017

Incident Code

CI802

Location

المدينة القديمة, Mosul, Old City, Nineveh, Iraq
A number of local sources claimed that more than 1,000 civilians had been killed or wounded over a week-long period as a result of alleged Coalition and Iraqi government bombardment of Old Mosul over recent days. However further details were sparse. Iraq News Center reported that the number of civilian casualties buried under the rubble…

Summary

Published
7 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
300
Civilians reported injured
700
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

6 July 2017

Incident Code

CS1165b

Location

Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality", one man was reportedly killed in alleged Coalition artillery strikes in Raqqa. Although Airwars assesses single sourced incidents as "weak", researchers have assessed this incident "fair" due to the depth of material provided by Amnesty. The report stated that "Ala…

Summary

Published
6 July 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

6–24 July, 2017

Incident Code

CS1265a

Location

Raqqa, Raqqa, Syria
In the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report "War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality", three civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Coalition artillery strikes in Raqqa. Although Airwars assesses single sourced incidents as "weak", researchers have assessed this incident "fair" due to the depth of material provided by Amnesty. According to the Amnesty report,…

Summary

Published
24 July 2017
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident